Lutein For Healthy Eyes and Skin

Lutein's Workings

Fat or Water Soluble Antioxidant:

Fat Soluble

Since they are fat-soluble
nutrient, Carotenoids such as
Lutein, require the presence of dietary fat for proper absorption through the
digestive tract. Consequently, your carotenoid status may be impaired by a diet
that is :

extremely
low in fat

or,

medical
conditions that causes a reduction in the ability to absorb dietary fat such as
:

§ pancreatic enzyme deficiency

§ Crohn's disease

§ celiac sprue

§ cystic fibrosis

§ surgical removal of part or all of the
stomach, gall bladder disease

§ Liver disease.

Lutein appears
to work in partnership with Zeaxanthin, another Carotenoid antioxidant,
tackling the same health issues and performing similar functions.

Both are
present in the eyes and skin.

In the eyes,
they appear to exist in a certain ratio. The suggested ratio is 2:1 (Zeaxanthin
to Lutein), for adults. Therefore,
taking one carotenoid and not the other, may reduce their effectiveness as eye
care. Additionally, taking them in the incorrect ratio will also reduce their
effectiveness – such as, taking too much Lutein and not sufficient Zeaxanthin,
the access Lutein is not absorbed by the eyes, as the ratio of Zeaxanthin to
Lutein, in the eyes, has to be maintained.

Other functions
besides being an antioxidant:

Being
yellow in color, it aids in the absorption of UV and the more damaging “blue
light” that penetrates our eyes

Where Is Lutein Found Naturally?

It is found it
both plants and animals, however, even in animals, the lutein is derived from
plant foods.

Lutein is found
in the human body:

Eyes
– in particular Retina and Macular areas of the eyes

Skin

Large
Intestine (or Colon)

Uterus

We are born
with Lutein in our body but because our body does not produce lutein, we need
to replenish the Lutein through foods and/or supplements.

The process of
heat (from cooking or otherwise) can destroy the levels of Lutein in the foods.

Spinach - Lutein Rich

Health Benefits of Lutein

Examples of the
health benefits of Lutein:

Lutein
has been quoted to prevent or stop deterioration of Aged-Related Macular Degeneration
(AMD) through its 2 folds functions:

o
neutralizing
the damaging effects of free radicals in the macular area

o
Absorbing
the UV and blue light, preventing the formation of free radicals caused by UV
and blue light

Where
UV and blue light are not absorbed, they create free radicals that attack the
eyes. Lutein works as an antioxidant to counter the effects of the free
radicals. Free radicals can cause other
eye diseases, such as:

o
Cataract
– free radicals damages the protein on the lens of the eyes

It
aids in skin health and skin healing

Cancer
prevention and fighter – such as colon cancer, uterus cancer

Use as Food Additive

As a food additive :

E
number E161b (INS number 161b)

o
Extract
of the petals of marigold (Tagetes erecta)

o
Approved
for use in the EU and Australia and New Zealand, but is banned in
the USA.